Compression type fastening tool having interchangeable components



Oct. 17, 1967 R. DOHERTY 3,347,439

N. COMPRESSION TYPE FASTENING TOOL HAVING INTERCHANGEABLE COMPONENTS Filed Sept. 9, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. NORMAN R. DOHERTY ATTORNEY Oct. 17, 1967 N R. DOHERTY 3,347,439

COMPRESSION 'IYPE FASTENING TOOL HAVING INTERGHANGEABLE COMPONENTS Filed Sept. 9, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR, NORMAN R. DOHERTY ATTORNEY Oct. 17, 1967 N. R. DOHERTY 3,347,439

' COMPRESSION TYPE FASTENING TOOL HAVING I INTERCHANGEABLE COMPONENTS Filed Sept. 9, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 7 I FIG. 8

AAAAll INVENTOR. NORMAN R. DOHERTY ATTORNEY United States Patent ABSTRACT on" THE DISCLOSURE A fastener driving tool having an interchangeable fastener magazine and driver blade for the accommodation of a diversity of sizes of fasteners.

This invention relates generally to compression tackers and more particularly to tools of that class having a readily interchangeable fastener driving blade and a readily interchangeable combination fastener supply magazine and head housing.

The present invention will be described in connection novel staple supply and driving structures that may be readily removed as complete and self-contained units from the body portion of a compression tacker and be interchanged with similarly functioning but differently sized structures. It is to be understood that the basic concept of the invention may be applied to tacking devices for driving other fasteners such as nails, tacks, pins or the like.

The desirability of being able to accommodate a range of staple sizes in a single, basic tool has long been recognized. Such a universal tool would obviate the need for a separate tool for each job. At a minimum of expense, a set of compression staplers could be provided having the same utility as a set of screwdrivers or a set of wrenches. This would assure that the correct tool would be used for each one of a variety of jobs.

There are presently available many devices for using staples having different length legs or different gage wire in the same gun. Attempts'have also been made to drive different width staples with a single gun. (By width is meant the transverse spacing between the staple legs.) However, in the last mentioned area, it has frequently been necessary to almost completely. dismantle the prior art devices in order to use the same gun with different size staples. Even in those instances where special tools are not required, several screws and nuts must be removed from the tool.

The prior art devices present still another major problem. To the best of applicants knowledge, there has never been commercially available a device which permitted quick, simple adjustment for fasteners of different sizes. Certain prior art patents refer to interchangeable components but close examination of these patents will show is the use of universal parts in combination with a limited number of special parts. This practice is followed in the production of automobiles and household appliances. However, from the consumers viewpoint an automatic transmission would not be regarded as interchangeable. with a standard transmission, although from the sales and manufacturing viewpoints it is. Generally compression devices cannot be field disassembled for changes. Parts can easily get lost or damaged and generally the reassembly procedure is diflicult and time consuming. Of importance is the danger involved for an unskilled or untrained individual during the disassembly of a compression tacker. Usually a heavy duty spring is used to drive the staple blade. When the cover or housing 3,347,439 Patented Oct. 17, 1967 of a prior art device is removed, the driver spring urges the driver blade and other components outwardly with tremendous force unless special tools and fixtures are used.

By way of contrast, the present invention provides a single, basic unit comprised of a handheld housing containing a permanently installed, nonremovable power package in the form of a pivotal, spring biased handle, a blade driving ram, a biased pawl pivotally mounted on the inner end of the handle ing member and a blade-driving compression spring. In the present invention the staple driving blade is removably carried by the ram which is actuated by the compression spring. An L-shaped staple supply magazine containing a guide track or head housing for the driver blade is removably secured to the tool housing by means of snapping together the parts. Removal of the combination supply magazine and headhousing fully exposes the driver blade so that it may be simply lifted off the ram without the use of any tools and with absolutely no danger to the user. As is evident from the drawings, the driving mechanism cannot come loose when the driver blade and staple magazine are changed for use with different staples. It will also be evident from the ensuing description that the components may be changed without special tools, training or skills. A minimum of time and effort is required to change staple sizes since the blade and magazine are not secured with conventional fasteners.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved, hand operated compression type tool that is usable with fasteners having a wide range of widths.

Another object is to provide structure in the aforementioned tool whereby the fastener supply magazine and the fastener driving blade are readily separable from the power package integrally and permanently contained in the housing. l

A further object is to providean improved compression type stapler or tacker capable of accommodating a wide range of interchangeable driver blades and supply magazines.

Still another object is to provide the aforementioned interchangeability without recourse to the usual fasteners.

such as screws, nuts, rivets, etc.

An additional object is to provide a removable supply be interchangeably used with a single basic fastener having a self-contained, nonremovable power package.

These and other features, objects and advantages of the invention will, in part, be pointed out with particularity and will, in part, become obvious from the following more detailed description of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing which forms an integral part thereof.

In the various figures of the drawing like reference characters designate like parts.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a compression type tacker incorporating the interchangeable features of the present invention;

FFIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the device of FIG. 3 is a sectional side elevation view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an to lift the ram, a shock absorb- FIG. 5A is a schematic, composite showing of variously sized driver blades that may be employed with the basic housing and power package.

FIG. 6A is a pictorial view of the blade driving plunger;

FIG. 6B is another pictorial view of the blade driving plunger viewed from a position opposite to that of FIG. 6A.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are typical transverse elevational sections taken through two different sized staple supply magazines with the appropriate driver blade schematically superimposed thereover;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the combination head housing supply magazine; and

FIG. 9 is an exploded side elevational view similar to FIG. 2v showing the combined supply magazine and head housing as well as the driver blade disassembled.

In the accompanying drawing, compression tacker 10, incorporating the novel structure of the present invention, is shown embodying the form and several of the internal components of the device of U.S. Patent No. 2,309,628 issued to S. A. Crosby on Feb. 2, 19.43. This structure is used by way of example only, it being clearly understood that other housing, triggering and ram-actuating means as well as othe rams may be employed. The basic concept of this invention, the provision of interchangeable fastener supply magazines and interchangeable driver blades therefor, may be applied with equal facility to tools for driving nails, brads, tacks, pins and the like. However, for purposes of this description, reference will be made only to a compression tacker adapted to accommodate and drive staples, particularly those having different widths (the transverse spacing between legs). A secondary feature is that staples of different gage and leg length may also be driven by the basic tool. To aid in the understanding of the invention, the apparatus will be broken down into three major elements consisting of a housing and power unit, a driver blade, and a combination supply magazine and head housing. A resilient clip member, which will also be described in detail, releasably retains the three major elements.

(I) Housing and power unit Housing 12 is comprised of a body portion 14 having a hand or finger opening 16, a head portion 18 in which the power unit 20 is housed and a tail portion 22 on which the combination staple supply magazine and head housing 24 is pivotally and detachably secured. Housing 12 may be a metal stamping or a casting having side walls 12a and 12b permanently secured together by means of a plurality of fasteners such as rivets 25. Handle 26 is pivotally mounted on a transverse pin 28 extending between the side walls of the housing and is resiliently biased with respect to the body portion by means of a torsion spring 30 (FIG. 3).

Power unit 20' is comprised of a plunger or ram 32 that is vertically movable within a recess formed in head portion 18 of the housing. In the particular embodiment illustrated, the ram is an elongated, rectangular block having an upwardly facing longitudinal bore 34 extending almost the entire length thereof. Compression spring 36 is disposed in the bore and is also seated in a downwardly facing opposed recess 38 formed in head portion 18. The upward travel of the ram is limited by a portion of the handle which bears against head portion 18 when the handle is fully depressed while the downward travel of the ram is limited by a transverse bar 40 extending between the side walls of the housing. Bumper 42 is interposed between the bottom of the ram and bar 40 to cushion the shock caused by the abrupt termination of the downward ram stroke. Alternatively, a second, shock absorbing compression spring coaxial with the first spring could also be used for this purpose.

The rearward vertical face of the ram is provided with a notch 44 adapted to cooperate with a lifting pawl 46 pivotally mounted on pin 48 disposed in the forward end of the handle. The pawl is urged into engagement with the ram notch by a torsion spring 50 when the handle is in the raised position. As the handle is depressed, the pawl lifts the ram against the force of spring 36 until the top of the stroke is reached. At this point the pawl, which travels in an arcuate path, is automatically released from the notch allowing the ram to travel downwardly with a force sufficient to drive the staple into the workpiece.

The ram is further provided on each vertical side face with at least one but preferably two integral keys, pads or bosses 52 (FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B). These pads slidingly fit into elongated notches or tracks 54 formed in each side wall of the tool head portion. Thus, in addition to accurate guide means for the ram, the key and track arrangement also functions as retaining means for the power package when the tool is disassembled to interchange the driver blade and/ or the staple supply magazine. This feature is absent from the prior art and, in combination with the concept of interchangeable parts, forms at least part of the present invention. For reasons to be discussed hereinafter, the front vertical surface of the ram is provided with a pair of vertically aligned keys or pads 56.

(II) Driver blade In FIG. 5 it may be seen that driver blade 58 is a substantially fiat member having an upper portion 60 formed with a pair of vertically aligned apertures 62 so sized, shaped and spaced that they may be removably positioned on keys 56 of the ram. The lower, somewhat thicker end 64 of the driver blade is shaped and dimensioned in accordance with the size and type of staple being used. The blade, therefore, may have a lower end & inch wide or wider, as shown schematically in FIG. 5A. Therein the widest blade to be accommodated in the tool is designated B, the narrowest blade B and representative of all blades of intermediate width is B". If so desired, an arcuate notch may be formed in the stapleengaging end of the blade.

Although the driver blade is movable together with the ram, it is evident that the blade is readily removable therefrom because no screws or fasteners of any type are used. Of particular importance is the fact that when the blade is removed, for example, when a different size staple is used in the tool, neither the ram nor the driving compression spring is disturbed or in any way removed from the housing.

While the drawings illustrate two key members 56 formed on the front surface of the ram and two apertures 62 formed on the blade, the structure is not limited to this arrangement. It could be advantageous to form even three or four equally spaced and vertically aligned apertures on the blade in combination with two keys on the ram. Depending on the spacing selected between aperture centers the blade could be positioned in different places on the ram. Thus in a very simple manner the effective length of stroke of the ram could be varied without resorting to special tools and without requiring complex and costly disassembly. The ram, of course, would always travel the same distance but by selecting the two lower blade apertures there would be less blade projection below the tool than if the two upper apertures were selected. A pair of blade apertures in between the extremes would provide an intermediate projection of the blade.

(III) Combination fastener supply magazine and head housing One of the novel features of the present invention is the one-piece, combination staple supply magazine and head housing 24 which is removably attached to the tool housing 12 without conventional fasteners. The magazine portion is comprised of a pair of nesting, substantially U-shaped inner and outer channels 66 and 68, respectively. The open side of inner channel 66 faces upwardly and is spaced from inwardly turned flanges 70 integral with the outer channel. Similarly, the side Walls of the inner channel are spaced from the side walls of the outer channel whereby a stick of adhesively secured, down- Wardly facing U-shaped staples S may be slidably received therebetween. A spring loaded pusher assembly 72, having means to releasably lock it to the magazine, urges the staple stick towards the forward end of the tool whereby the first staple is ina position to be sheared off and driven into the workpiece by the driver blade. It should be understood that the foregoing description of the pusher bar is for illustrative purposes only and that others may be substituted.

Each side of the rearward end of the magazine is provided with an car 74 having a rearwardly opening slot 76. First transverse pin 73 secured to the side walls of the housing at the tail portion 22 thereof is arranged to releasably receive slots 76 when the tool is assembled. A second pair of ears 80, each having an upwardly facing slot 82, is formed integrally with the magazine proximate the forward end of the tool. A second, transverse pin 84 extending outwardly from either side of the tool housing releasably receives slots 82 when the tool is assembled. Pin 84 further serves to prevent longitudinal movement of the magazine with respect to the housing.

The head housing or blade guide means 86 is integrally secured to the magazine to define an L-shaped structure. In the asembled condition, side walls 88 overlay the side walls of the tool housing at the head portion 18 thereof while front wall 98 is spaced from the front of both the tool housing and the magazine by substantially the thickness of the driver blade. Thus when the tool is fully assembled, the head housing serves to cover, retain and guide the driver blade. With the head housing and magazine removed the driver blade is readily accessible and easily removable without tools.

FIGS. 7 and 7B are transverse sections through two typical staple supply magazines that differ in the width of the staple they accommodate. Taking the extreme sizes, the magazine in FIG. 7A would accept staple S having a transverse spacing of A. The magazine of FIG. 7B would accept a staple S having a dimention of A. In either case, the dimension betwen the spaced parallel legs of the staple is close to or perhaps slightly greater than the width of the inner channel. The staples would therefore be disposed in the guide track defined by the space between the upstanding walls of the inner and outer channels. The driver blades B and B that would be most effectively used with staples S and S, respectively, are schematically shown superimposed thereabove.

It should be noted inner channel is changed for different width staples. Similarly, the lower, staple-engaging end of the blade is also changed to correspond with the staple width. Neither the outer channel northe head housing need be changed in width. Thus the combination magazine and headhousing for each size of staple will mate with a single basic tool housing.

Means to releasably secure the components A pair of resilient clip members 92 are all that is required to hold the components in the assembled condition. Finger pressure is applied to each 'clip on the housing sides to release the clips, a portion of each being disposed about each laterally extending end of pin 84. In this manner the combination fastener supply magazine and head housing is easily removed from the tool housing and the driver blade removed from the blade-driving ram. It is obvious that no screws or bolts, nu rivets, or similar fasteners, are required to hold the three major components together. In fact, no tools or any special skills of any sort are required. The resiliency of the clip absorbs at least some of the shock arising from the driving of each staple and therefore reduces the likelihood of fracturing the stapler parts.

Each clip 92 comprises a first portion 94, loosely and that the width dimension of the rotatably secured to a pin 96 extending from each side of the head housing 18. A second portion 98 of the clip is arcuate and is arranged to be forcibly positioned over the laterally extending ends of second pin 84. Still a third portion defines a fingergripping tab. The resilient clip is shaped such that a gripping action is achieved between pin 96 and second pin 84 when the clip is in place. In this manner the three major elements of the tool are releasably secured to each other.

Assembly and disassembly Reference may be had to FIG. 9 for an understanding of the ease and simplicity of disassembling, interchanging and reassembling the major sections of the tool. First, the appropriate driver blade for the particular gage and size staples to be used is placed on the outwardly extending bosses or keys of the ram. Then with the housing and power package in one hand and the combination staple supply magazine and head housing in the other hand, the laterally extending ends of the first transverse pin 78 are fully seated in slots 76. With the pin 78 acting as a pivot point, the magazine and head housing are swung upwardly until notches 82 engage the extending ends of second pin 84. In this position the head housing covers both the driver blade andthe exposed front end and bottom ofthe tool.

At this point in the assembly, hanging downwardly. The second portion 98 of each clip is then forced over and into engagement with the laterally extending ends of second pin 84 and the tool is ready for operation. The procedure for disassembling the tool is just the reverse and equally simple. Tab portions 100 are released by finger pressure so that the clips hang down loosely; With downward pressure on the top of the head housing, the second pin 84 will be released from notches 82 and the first pin 78 will be released from notches 76. The combination head housing and magazine, as well as the driver blade, are therefore available for removal and interchange with diiferent sized members that are designed to give optimum performance with different sized staples ranging upward in width, for example, from & inch.

Without intending to limit the invention, the principal advantages and features of the present invention may be summarized as follows:

. 1) The entire structure is compact, rugged, and easy to handle.

(2) All of the individual each of the clips 92 are components are easy to manlow.

(3) The power package and housing which represent the major cost of the tool are common to many relatively a minimum of cost the user which can drive a variety of different type staples.

(4) No tools or special skills are required to change the device for use with different sized staples.

(5) When the apparatus is changed for dilferent staple sizes, the relatively expensive power package is not disturbed by inexperienced personnel. Only the supply magazine, including the blade guide,

and the driver blade are removed with the power package remaining in the housing.

(6) The blade guide or head housing is integral with ufacture and assemble so that the cost of the tool is kept and accurately assembled used to drive staples having a straight transverse section or staples having offset portions in the transverse section.

(11) The tool can be used to drive a variety of different fasteners such as staples, pins, brads, nails, etc.

While the present invention is primarily concerned with means for interchangeably accepting different width staples, it should be evident that secondary features are also available. Thus, by providing a range of magazines having the front end thereof spaced differently with respect to the inside surface of the head housing, many different gages of staples could be used with a single tool housing and power package. Further, by making the legs of the inner channel of different heights, staples having different length legs could also be used. Obviously then, the interchangeable feature of the present invention provides that almost any combination of staple width, gage or length of leg can be used with a single basic tool.

Having thus disclosed the best embodiment of the invention presently contemplated, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a fastener driving tool having interchangeable components for driving any one of a plurality of fasteners having different width, gage and/or leg length into a work piece, the tool having a hand held housing, said driving means slidably enclosed and retained Within the housing when said tool is disassembled for interchange of components and means to urge the fasteners towards the forward end of the housing, the combination therewith of:

(a) a fastener blade removably supported on and movable together with the said driving means;

(b) a combination fastener supply magazine and head housing removably secured to the tool housing whereby said head housing is disposed in covering relationship with said driver blade when said tool is assembled; and

(c) retaining means arranged to releasably hold said combination supply magazine and head housing to the tool housing.

2. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 including at least one key member formed integrally on the said driving means, said driver blade having at least one similarly sized and shaped aperture therein, the driver blade aperture being arranged to releasably interfit with said key member of the said driving means.

3. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the fastener contacting portion of said blade is substantially the same width as the fastener.

4. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said supply magazine is comprised of upwardly facing inner and outer channels nestingly secured in spaced relationship to each other, the width dimension of said inner channel being substantially the same as the fastener.

5. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means to releasably secure said combination supply magazine and head housing comprises a resilient clip member having a first portion loosely secured to said supply magazine and a second portion arranged to engage a fixed portion of the housing of said tool.

6. An improved manually operated tool having interchangeable components for driving any one of a plurality of fasteners having different width, gage and/ or leg length into a work piece, said tool comprising:

(a) a hollow housing having a pair of parallel side walls;

(b) a ram disposed and retained in said housing when said tool is disassembled for interchange of components;

(c) means to actuate said ram;

(d) first interfitting means on said ram and said housing to slidably retain said ram within said housing;

(e) a fastener driver blade disposed on and movable tog ther wi h said ram;

(f) second interfitting means on said blade and said ram whereby said blade is removable therefrom;

(g) a combination fastener supply magazine and head housing removably secured to said tool housing, whereby, in the assembled condition, said head housing is disposed in covering relationship with said driver blade; and

(h) retaining means arranged to releasably hold said combination head housing and supply magazine on said tool housing.

7. The apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein said first interfitting means comprises at least one key member integral with each side of said ram and a mating track in each of said side walls of said housing.

8. In a manually operated tool having interchangeable components of the type described for driving any one of a plurality of fasteners, having different width, gage and/ or leg length into a work piece, said tool having a housing, a fastener driving ram slidably disposed and retained within the housing when said tool is disassembled for interchange of components, means to actuate the ram, a fastener supply magazine and means to urge a supply of fasteners towards the forward end of the tool, the improvement therein which comprises:

(a) at least one key member formed integrally on each side and the front surface of the ram;

(b) at least one track formed in each side wall of the housing, said tracks being arranged to slidably receive and retain said side keys of said ram;

(c) a fastener driving blade having an aperture in the upper end thereof, the aperture being sized for removable engagement with said front key of said ram;

(d) a head housing integral with the supply magazine at the forward end thereof, said head housing being disposed in covering relationship with said blade when said tool is assembled; and

(e) means to releasably retain the magazine on the housing.

9. The apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein said head housing is a channel member having a central portion arranged to overlay said driver blade and a pair of spaced side walls arranged to overlay the sides of the tool housing at the forward end thereof, said head housing and the fastener supply magazine, in combination, defining an L-shaped member.

10. A manually operated compression type tool of the type described for driving any one of a plurality of fasteners having different width, gage and/ or leg length into a work piece, said tool comprising:

(a) a hollow housing having a pair of spaced side walls defining a forward portion, a hand gripping portion and a rearward portion, said forward portion having at least one vertically aligned track in each of said side walls, said rearward portion having a first integral pin disposed transversely between said side walls, said forward portion having a second transverse pin extending laterally from said side walls at a point intermediate the ends of said tool;

(b) a ram member slidably disposed and retained in said forward portion of said housing when said tool is disassembled for interchange of components, said ram having a notch in its rearward surface;

(0) at least one key formed on each side surface of said ram, said key interfitting with the tracks in said housing whereby said ram is retained in said housing;

(d) a handle pivotally mounted in said housing;

(e) spring means normally biasing said handle to a position spaced away from said housing;

(f) a biased pawl member pivotally mounted on said handle, said pawl member being arranged to engage the notch in said ram member whereby said ram member is lifted when said handle is depressed towards said housing;

(g) a compression spring disposed between the top of said ram and said housing whereby upon removal of said pawl from the notch of said ram, said compression spring drives said ram downwardly;

(h) a stop member fixed in said housing in the path of said ram, said stop member being adapted to limit the downward travel of said ram;

(i) a cushioning member interposed between the bottom of said ram and said stop member;

(j) at least one key formed on the front surface of said ram member;

(k) a driver blade having at least one aperture formed therein, said key on the front surface of said ram interfitting with the aperture of said blade whereby said blade is readily removable from said ram;

(1) a combination fastener supply magazine and head housing removably positionable on said tool housing, said magazine having a first notched portion at its rearward end adapted to interfit with said first pin of said tool housing and a second notched portion adapted to interfit with the laterally extending ends of said second pin whereby in the assembled condition said head housing is disposed in covering relationship with said driver blade; and

(m) a spring clip loosely mounted on each side of said 5 combined supply magazine and head housing, each of said clips being adapted to engage a laterally extending end of said second pin whereby said combined supply magazine and head housing is releasably and resiliently retained on said tool housing.

10 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,143,384 1/1939 Peterson 227132 2,332,257 10/1943 Polzer 227-109 15 2,931,040 4/1960 Lawler 227132 3,035,268 5/1962 Goldring 227-123 3,037,207 6/1962 Pazan 227-109 

1. IN A FASTENER DRIVING TOOL HAVING INTERCHANGEABLE COMPONENTS FOR DRIVING ANY ONE OF A PLURALITY OF FASTENERS HAVING DIFFERNET WIDTH, GAGE AND/OR LEG LENGTH INTO A WORK PIECE, THE TOOL HAVING A HAND HELD HOUSING, SAID DRIVING MEANS SLIDABLY ENCLOSED AND RETAINED WITHIN THE HOUSING WHEN SAID TOOL IS DISASSEMBLED FOR INTERCHANGE OF COMPONENTS AND MEANS TO URGE THE FASTENERS TOWARDS THE FORWARD AND OF THE HOUSING, THE COMBINATION THEREWITH OF; (A) A FASTENER BLADE REMOVABLLY SUPPORTED ON AND MOVABLE TOGETHER WITH THE SAID DRIVING MEANS; (B) A COMBINATION FASTENER SUPPLY MAGAZINE AND HEAD HOUSING REMOVABLY SECURED TO THE TOOL HOUSING WHEREBY SAID HEAD HOUSING IS DISPOSED IN COVERING RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID DRIVER BLADE WHEN SAID TOOL IS ASSEMBLED; AND (C) RETAINING MEANS ARRANGED TO RELEASABLY HOLD SAID COMBINATION SUPPLY MAGAZINE AND HEAD HOUSING TO THE TOOL HOUSING. 